Combination sofa and bed



April -14, 1953 J. J. wdDARsKY COMBINATION SOFA AND BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1949,

April 14, 1953 J. J. WQDARSKY comsmmon SOFA AND BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4. 1949 April 4, 1953 J. J. WODARSKY COMBINATION SOFA AND BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 4, 1949 April 14, 1953 J. J. WODARSKY ,4

COMBINATION SOFA AND BED Filed May 4, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 6? v 527 m 62 i\ X I I o w 74 N1 WW 1 o 50 72 6 April 14, 1953 J. J WODARSKY comsmmou 50m AND BED Filed May 4. 1949 Patented Apr. 14, 1953 COMBINATION SOFA AND BED John J. Wodarsky, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Superior Sleeprite Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application May 4, 1949, Serial No. 91,293

10 Claims. (01. -13) This invention relates to a combination sofa and bed which may be used as a sofa without any outward indication of its dual purpose, and may be opened to a full sized bed, complete with a comfortable mattress.

Broadly speaking, combination sofas and beds are not new. However, all those heretofore known have had serious disadvantages which have kept such combinations from operating as emciently as they might.

One of the principal advantages of the present structure is the stability of support provided for the head section when the combination is opened to form a bed. Another advantage of the present invention is the ease of operation in converting the device from a sofa to a bed and vice versa. The linkage by which these changes are made possible is simple, efiicient, and substantially fool-proof, so that it will not jam or fail to function under any conditions of normal usage. Another advantage of the sofa-bed combination contemplated in the present invention is the ease of assembling and handling the device in shipping, and in carrying it up stairs and through narrow doors. The bed structure may be detached from the frames of the sofa so that the two elements may be handled as separate units until they reach their ultimate destination, where they can be assembled into a single unit without skilled labor and without tools of any kind.

The structure by which the above advantages are attained will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of a preferred illustrative. embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the sofa in closed position and in dotted lines showing the bed and mattress in the position they occupy when open;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bed folded into closed position, with the mattress and the sofa frame shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bed in open position, with the sofa frame shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bed in open position showing details of the spring structure;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the bed after the first movement towards closed position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of the foot end of the bed in open position;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective detail, with the intermediate spring section folded at'right angles to the torso spring section, showing how the spring is folded with the bed;

Fig. 8 is a view, taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 4, showing the bed after the second movement towards closed position;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the bed in its third position of movement towards closed position;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective detail of the sofa frame construction, showing the means for securing the bed frame in the sofa frame;

Fig. ll is a view, taken substantially along the line at of Fig. at showing the sofa frame and the bed just before it is assembled with the sofa structure;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detailed perspective showing the means for securing the ends of the bed into the sides of the sofa structure; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail perspective showing the normal position of the end of the bed and supporting arm which prevents accidental displacement of the parts.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates generally a sofa comprising a framework of wood or other suitable material, the parts of which are covered by upholstery 3. As shown in Fig. 10, the framework of the sofa comprises a back section 4 and a pair of end sections 5. The back section comprises a horizontal base member s and an upper horizontal member i, secured at their ends to a pair of vertical supporting members 8. A pair of angular members 9 extend downwardly and forwardly of upper horizontal member l and their lower portions are connected by a horizontal bar it]. The recess between horizontal bar is and the plane of members 6 and l is not visible from the outside of the sofa because upholstery 3 is stretched over bar I8. This recess is utilized to receive one end of the mattress I! (Fig. 2) when the combination is folded into sofa formation. A bar I2 (Fig. 11) having an upwardly directed notch i3, is rigidly secured to each member 9. A pin It projects laterally from each bar 12 just to the rear of notch I3. The purpose of the notched bars and pins will be hereinafter described.

Each end section of the framework of the sofa comprises a horizontal base member I5, secured at one end to the vertical supporting member 8 and at one end to a front vertical supporting member It. An upper horizontal member ll, secured at its ends to upright members 8 and [6, forms the base of the arm rest of the sofa. A cross bar it, having its ends secured to the bottoms of upright members It at opposite ends of within the frame of the sofa.

the sofa, constitutes a support for the front end of the folded bed structure when it is contained A fiat metal plate 18 is secured to the inside surface of each base member [5. An L-shaped socket 20 is pivoted to each plate 19 and has its short end secured to a coiled tension spring 21. The other end of spring 2! is secured to the end of plate i9.

As shown in Fig. 11, sockets are each adapted to receive an elevator arm 22, pivotally secured to the frame of the bed, and each notch 13 is adapted to receive a pin 23 projecting laterally from link 25 to secure the foldable bed structure to the sofa frame in such a manner that the bed structure may be unfolded into bed formation, or folded so that it can be positioned within the frame of the sofa. An inspection of Fig. 11 will show how easy it is to assemble the bed structure as a unit with the framework of the sofa or to remove it therefrom.

As shown in Fig. 11, the bed structure comprises a foot section 25, an intermediate section 25, a torso section 21, and a head section 28. The foot section, as shown in Figs. 3 and i, con

prises a pair of side rails 23, an end rail 35, and

secured at their other ends to end rail 35, and

springs 33 are secured at their other ends to intermediate section 26. The base or foot section 25 may, if desired, comprise a spring section instead of a sheet of canvas or similar fabric. A supporting leg 34 is pivotally secured to each side rail 29 near its outer end, as indicated at 3A.

The inner end of each rail 29 is pivotally secured, as indicated at 35, to a short side rail 36 comprising part of intermediate section 25. Rails 36 are L-shaped, and a plurality of cross bars 37 are supported at their ends by the bottom flange 33 (Fig. 6). Each cross bar 3? forms a bottom support for a plurality of vertically coiled spiral springs 39 which form a resilient support for mattress Ii when the structure is used as a bed. The spiral springs are tied together at their top by a plurality of tension springs 40 which are crossed in pairs. The spiral springs at the outer side of intermediate section 26 are supported at their outer upper edge by sleeves Al mounted on a border 42 which extends along the sides and one end of the intermediate section, as shown best in Fig. '7.

A metal strip 43, rigidly secured to each side rail 36 extends beyond the end of the side rail towards torso section 27. Metal strip 43 is pivotally secured as indicated at 44, to a similar strip 45 which extends from the end of each side rail 46 which constitutes part of torso section 2?. This pivotal connection leaves plenty of clearance between the adjacent ends of side rails 36 and 46 so that section 26 may be folded relative to section 21, as shown in Fig. 7.

Side rails 46 are similar to rails 36, except that they are longer, and their bottom flanges 4! support springs 39 in the same manner as flanges 38. The spring section of torso portion 21 is the same as the spring section of intermediate section 26 except that it is larger. lar to rod 42, extends around the sides and one end of the torso spring section, and is pivoted at its ends to rod 42, as indicated at 49. Rods 42 and 48 form a supporting border about spiral springs 39 for supporting the tops of the springs adjacent to the border. A supporting leg 50 is A border rod 48, simipivotally secured to each side rail 46 at a point near its end closest to intermediate section 23.

Although springs 39 are shown as vertically coiled spiral springs, it will be obvious that flat spring sections may be used in intermediate section 26 and torso section 27, if desired.

The head section 28 comprises a pair of side rails 5!, similar to side rails 35 and 45, and an end rail 52. Side rails 5! are pivotally secured at their ends to the adjacent ends of side rails 46, as indicated at 53, in the same manner that the opposite ends of rails G6 are secured to rails 36. A flat spring structure 54, forming the base of head section 28,, is secured to side rails 5i and end rail 52 by means of a plurality of coiled springs 55. An extension 53, secured to end rail 52, formsa support for the upper end of mattress H which creeps past end rail 52 when the bed is folded inside the frame of the sofa, as shown in Fig. 2.

The linkage which coordinates the movements of the various sections of the bed structure as it is folded into the frame of the sofa will now be described, starting again with the foot section of the bed. The first folding movement, by which the foot section is raised until it extends perpendicularly to intermediate section 25, is shown in Fig. 5. The linkage is duplicated on each side of the bed structure, so only one side will be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 5, link 51 is pivotally secured at one end to side rail 29, as indicated at 58. The opposite end of link 57 is pivotally secured at one end to side rail 36, as

" indicated at 55. The said opposite end of link 51 is provided with an elongated slot 59 which fits around a stud 8G projecting laterally from side rail 33. Link 5? permits the foot section to be moved about the pivot 35, and the ends of slot 59 limit the movement between the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3 and the perpendicular position shown in Fig. 5. Another link Si is pivotally secured at one end to leg 34 just below the point 3 5', and at its other end. to the forward end of a plate 62 which is rigidly secured to side rail 36 and depends therefrom in'the position shown in Fig. 3. As foot section 25 is folded to the position shown in Fig. 5, link 5! pulls in leg 35 until it is substantially parallel to side rail 29.

The second movement of the folding action of the bed structure moves intermediate section 26 from the horizontal position shown in Figs. 3 and 5 to the vertical position shown in Figs. 7 and 8. A link 63 is pivotally secured at one end to side rail 36, as indicated at 65. The other end of link 33 is provided with an elongated slot 65 which fits around a stud 56 projecting laterally from side rail is and permits movement of intermediate section 25 around its pivot 44. It will be seen in Fig. 8 that link 63 gives substantial support to intermediate section 23 because of the engagement of the end of slot 55 with stud 66, and, similarly, foot section 25 receives solid support from the engagement of the end of slot 59 with stud 65. This support is of particular importance when the to plates 62 depending from intermediate section 25, and raises the bed from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9. Elevator arm 22 is pivotally secured to side rail 46, as indicated at 68. Another link 69, pivoted atone end to side rail 46 at 68, has its other end pivoted to one end of a link 16. The other end of link i is pivoted to supporting leg 59. A link H has one end pivotally secured to elevator arm 22 and its other end pivoted at the pivoted connection between links 59 and iii.

As torso section 2'! is raised, it moves about pivot 53 which moves downwardly to the bottom of the sofa frame. As the front end of section 21 is lifted, links 59, it, and H start to pull supporting leg 50 inwardly towards arm 22. The upward movement of the front end of section 21 continues until elevator arm 22 reaches dead center above the pivot 12 of socket 2b in which arm 22 is positioned. Spring 2| has no effect on the movement of section 21 up to this point.

Movement of section 27 from the position of Fig. 9 to the closed position shown in Fig. 2 is opposed by spring 2| because movement of socket 25 about pivot 72 tends to stretch the spring. This resistance is advantageous because it counterbalances, to some extent, the effect of gravity which otherwise would cause the bed structure to slam into place as it is pushed inwardly from the position of Fig. 9. Elevator arm 22 guides the bed structure downwardly. The spring action is also advantageous in opening the bed because the various movements are reversed and the spring lessens the force necessary to lift the bed from the position of 2 to the posi tion of Fig. 9.

A link '53 has one end pivoted to side rail 16 adjacent the pivot 53 and its other end pivoted to the end of link 2 just below the point where link 2 is pivoted to side rail 5!, as shown in Fig. 8. As section 2! is moved from the position of Fig. 9 to the position of Fig. 2, link '13 moves link 2 until its upper edge engages pin I l. Pin l 4 prevents the opposite end of link 2 from being displaced accidentally from notch l3 when the bed is in closed position. At the same time, links 69, 16, and H pull leg 50 inwardly until it is substantially parallel to side rail 46, as shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 8, a considerable length of bed structure has no apparent vertical support between link f l and leg 56 when the bed is open. In order to stabilize the head section so that it will not sag, particularly adjacent pivot 53, link i3 is extended beyond pivot 53 and secured to side rail 46. The folding action of the bed about pivot 53 would be substantially the same if link 73 were secured to side rail 5!, but the arrangement shown gives a stabilizing effect on the head section not attainable with any other construction.

In the position shown in Fig. 2, board 61 forms the front wall of the lower portion of the sofa. Accordingly it is covered with the same covering material used on the rest of the sofa. Plates 62, to which board 61 is secured, may be provided with cushioning members 14 which seat on cross bar l8 when the bed is in closed position.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described.

I claim:

1. In a combination sofa and bed, a sofa frame having a pair of side walls, a notched bar rigidly secured to each of said side walls, a socket pivoted to each of said side walls, and a bed comprising a plurality of foldable sections, one of said sections having at opposite sides a link engageable with each of said notched bars, and another of said sections having at opposite sides an arm insertable into each of said pivoted sockets.

2. In a combination sofa and bed, a sofa frame, a notched bar rigidly secured to said frame, a bed comprising a plurality of sections foldable into said sofa frame, a link pivoted to one of said bed sections and engageable with said notched bar, and a pin projecting laterally from said notched bar to engage said link when said bed sections are confined within said sofa frame to prevent accidental displacement of said link.

3. In a combination sofa and bed, a sofa frame, a pair of notched bars rigidly secured to opposite sides of said sofa frame, a bed comprising a head section and a, torso section foldable relative to each other, a pair of links, one of said links being pivoted to each side of said head section and engageable with said notched bars to secure said bed and sofa in cooperative position, and a second pair of links each having one end secured to one of said first mentioned pair of links and its other end secured to said torso section to stabilize said head section when said bed sections are opened for use as a bed.

4. In a combination sofa and bed, a sofa frame, a bed comprising a head section and a torso sec- .tion foldable relative to each other, a link securing said head section to said sofa frame, and a second link pivotally secured at one end to said first link and at its other end to said torso section to stabilize said head section when said bed sections are opened for use as a bed.

5. In a combination sofa and bed, a sofa frame, a socket pivotally mounted on said sofa frame, a bed section, a supporting leg pivoted to said bed section, an elevator arm pivoted to said bed section, the free end of said elevator arm being positioned in said socket, and a plurality of links connecting said elevator arm to said supporting leg, whereby said supporting leg is moved into substantial parallelism with said bed section as sa1d elevator arm is moved over the pivot of said socket to move said bed section towards closed position.

6. In a combination sofa and bed, a sofa frame, a bed comprising a head section and a torso sec- 171011 foldable relative to each other, each of said sections including a side rail, a link pivotally secured intermediate its ends to the side rail of said head section, and a second link pivotally secured at one end to one end of said first mentioned link and at its other end to the side rail of said torso section.

7. In a combination sofa and bed, a sofa frame having a back and a pair of sides, a recess in said back open at its bottom, a bed comprising a head section and a torso section foldable relative to each other, a link pivotally secured near one end to said head section, the other end of sa1d link being pivotally mounted on the side of said sofa frame, and a second link pivotally secured at one end to said first mentioned end of sa1d first link and at its other end to said torso section, whereby said head section is guided into sa1d recess as said torso and head sections are folded into closed position.

8. In a combination sofa and bed, a sofa frame having a back and a pair of sides, a recess in said back open at its bottom, a bed comprising a head section and atorso section foldable relative to each other, anotched bar rigidly secured to one side of said sofa frame, a link detachably engaged with said notched bar at one end and pivotally secured near its other end to said head section, and a second link pivotally secured at one end to said last mentioned end of said first mentioned link, said second link being pivotally secured at its other end to said torso section, said first mentioned link being pivotally movable about said notched bar, whereby said head section is guided into said recess as said torso and head sections are folded into closed position.

9. In a combination sofa and bed, a sofa frame, an L-shaped socket member pivotally secured to said sofa frame, a tension spring secured at one end to one end of said socket member and at its other end to said frame, and a bed comprising a plurality of foldable sections, and an elevator arm pivotally secured to one of said bed sections, the end of said arm being detachably secured in said socket member, said one bed section moving said elevator arm past the pivot of said socket member as it is folded towards closed position, said spring resisting movement of said socket member after said elevator arm has moved past said pivot in said closing direction;

10. In a combination sofa and bed, a sofa frame, an L-shaped socket member pivotally secured to ,8 i said sofa frame, a tension spring secured at one end to one end of said socket member and at its other end to said frame, and a bed comprising a plurality of foldable sections, and an elevator arm pivotally secured to one of said bed sections, the end of said arm being detachably secured in said socket member, said one bed section moving said elevator arm past the pivot of said socket member when folded towards closed position or unfolded towards open position, said spring resisting movement of said socket member after said elevator arm has moved past said pivot in said closing direction, and assisting movement of said socket member at the start of unfolding movement towards open position before said elevator arm passes said pivot.

JOHN J. WODARSKY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,184,142 Shumsky May 23, 1916 1,274,532 Gilda Aug. 6, 1918 1,349,620 Meves et a1 Aug. 17, 1920 2,397,017 Krakauer Mar. 19, 1946 2,544,132 Bua Mar. 6, 19-51 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 445,623 Great Britain Apr. 16, 1936 

